Innocence in The House On Mango Street by Conner Foley

Claim

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 01:26:02 UTC

The theme of innocence in The House on Mango Street is very important because it shows how children living there are sometimes oblivious to their surroundings.

Quote 1

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 01:47:42 UTC

"The word is that Earl is married and has a wife somewhere. Edna says she saw her once when Earl brought her

to the apartment. Mama says she is a skinny thing, blond

and pale like salamanders that have never seen the sun.

But I saw her once too and she's not that way at all. And

the boys across the street say she is a tall red-headed lady

who wears tight pink pants and green glasses."(71)

Explanation 1

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 01:55:32 UTC

In this quote, it becomes pretty obvious with a few inferences that none of these women is his wife and instead are prostitutes. Innocence is shown in this quote because not only can Esperanza not figure it out, but her mom doesn't even realize it either.

Quote 2

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:08:22 UTC

"We have to go right now, Lucy says taking Racheel's

hand because shelooks like she's thinking about that dollar.

Bum man is yelling something to the air but by now

we are running fast and far away, our high heel shoes

taking us all the way down the avenue and around the

block, past the ugly cousins, past Mr. Benny's, up Mango

Street, the back way, just in case."(42)

Explanation 2

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:18:00 UTC

Rachel's hesitation about the dollar shows that she is too innocent to realize the potential danger in the situation. The fact that, for such a small price, she would risk her safety truly proves that although some innocence is good, too much can be detrimental.

Quote 3

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:20:26 UTC

"Then he asked if I knew

what day it was, and when I said I didn't, he said it was his

birthday and would I please give him a birthday kiss. I

thought I would because he was so old and just as I was

about to put my lips on his cheek, he grabs my face with

both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth and doesn't

let go."(55)

explanation 3

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:31:55 UTC

This quote shows that Esperanza's innocence has caused her to have too much trust in others, especially adults. This can be seen because in the quote, she mentions she thought it was harmless because he was old, if she were more knowledgeable about the world around her, she could have easily avoided this.

Quote 4

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:49:30 UTC

"She is the one who told us

how Davey the Baby's sister got pregnant and what cream

is best for taking off moustache hair and if you count the

white flecks on your fingernails you can know how many

boys are thinking of you and lots of other things I can't

remember now."(27)

explanation 4

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 02:54:31 UTC

This shows that sometimes innocence is good or allows for children like Esperanza to be Children. What this means is that they need to have these random ideas and beliefs as a pivotal point in their childhood

Image that shows innocence

connerfoley — 2025-09-29 03:12:11 UTC

I chose this image because it shows how losing innocence can change the way you think. If this kid were older and lost his innocence, he would be most likely scared, which would be for a good reason because of the danger. However, innocence may be good because it allows for new things to happen that no corrupted person would even consider doing.

Grade

laura_brill1 — 2025-10-10 14:47:00 UTC

You start off with a weak thesis which then makes it hard for you to have an argument that is proven by the evidence you chose.

36/50